e understood what had made him so
exacting and severe with those under his command.

She saw that she herself had probably added to his unhappiness. His
long, silent love for her had only been an additional burden; for she
had not given him one encouraging word--very much the reverse! What
wonder that at last it should have become a kind of possession!

"Poor Joergen!" she said again, and took his hand.

It was the first token of affection she had bestowed upon him. She had
to draw her hand away again immediately to hold down her dress, for a
strong wind was blowing at the point, and a sailing-boat was tacking
just below them. The people in it waved up to them, and they waved back.
How fresh the air was! How brilliantly blue the fjord!

As they were descending towards the bay, Mary asked: "Do you really
believe that Uncle Klaus will disinherit you if we marry?"

"My dear girl, we have nothing to marry on!"

"We can sell these shares," she said undauntedly.

"If we were to sell them at their present price, in order to be able to
marry at once, he would be absolutely certain to cut me off."

But Mary would not give in. "There are our woods."

"It will be several years before there is any timber to fell."

How well informed Joergen was! How carefully he had thought the whole
thing out!

They had now reached the stretch of level road which led along the shore
to the last headland before Krogskogen. At a farm here there was a surly
old Lapland dog. Mary and he were good friends. He always barked a
little as people came up; probably he did not see well; but as soon as
he scented an acquaintance his tail began to wag.

To-day he was furious.

"Dear me!" exclaimed Mary, "is it you who are making him so angry,
Joergen?"

Joergen did not answer, but stooped to pick up a small stone. When the
dog saw this, he scurried off with his tail between his legs to the
shelter of a heap of sticks, and there continued to bark.

"Don't do it!" said Mary, as she saw Joergen taking aim.

"It will be interesting to see whether or not he retreats in the exact
direction of my aim--if he does, the stone will hit him on the back." As
Joergen spoke, he pretended to throw. Off rushed the dog. Then he threw,
and the stone landed exactly where he had said. The dog howled.

"You see!" said Joergen exultingly. "There are not many who can throw
like that, I can tell you."

"Do you shoot equally well?"

"Certainly. What I do, Mary--it